Massachusetts woman accused of murdering her boyfriend held without bail

A Massachusetts woman charged with murdering her boyfriend was ordered held without bail on Thursday after being arraigned in Superior Court and pleading not guilty, Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker announced.

64-year-old Judy Church of Salisbury had previously been arraigned in Newburyport District Court after being arrested in December. She subsequently was indicted by a grand jury and arraigned in Salem Superior Court on a first-degree murder charge.

Church, who is accused of serving her boyfriend ethylene glycol, is next due in court March 21 for a bail hearing. She is being held at South Bay House of Correction in Boston.

About 8 p.m. on Nov. 11, 2022, Church called 911 to request an ambulance for her boyfriend, Leroy Fowler, 46.

Salisbury Police, Fire and EMS responded and found the victim in obvious medical distress. He was ultimately brought to Beth Israel Hospital in Boston, where he died on Nov. 13, 2022.

Salisbury Police, the Essex County District Attorney’s State Police Detective Unit and the Essex County District Attorney’s Office conducted an investigation.

Based upon their findings, coupled with Office of the Chief Medical Examiner’s determination that ethylene glycol poisoning was the cause of death, an arrest warrant charging Church with murder was obtained on Dec. 22, 2022.

Ethylene glycol is an industrial compound commonly found in antifreeze, deicing fluid and hydraulic brake fluid.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney A.J. Camelio.